Effect of flaxseed on serum lipid profile and expression of NPC۱L۱, ABCG۵ and ABCG۸ genes in the intestine of diabetic rat

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of flaxseed on gene expression of intestinal transporters: Niemann-Pick C۱ like ۱ (NPC۱L۱), ATP-cassette binding proteins G۵ (ABCG۵) and G۸ (ABCG۸). Methods: Animals were randomly divided into ۳ groups ۸ rats in each group: group۱; normal diet, group۲; diabetic rats, and group۳; diabetic rats + ۴% (w/w) flaxseed. After one-month rats were sacrificed, blood was collected; lipid profiles were determined enzymatically, and mRNA levels were deter-mined by RT-PCR. Results: Compared to diabetic rats, flaxseed significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and atherogenic index (all P<۰.۰۵). Intestinal NPC۱L۱ mRNA was significantly decreased (P<۰.۰۱) in flaxseed group treatment compared with diabetic animals. Intestinal ABCG۵ and ABCG۸ mRNAs were significantly increased (P<۰.۰۰۱) in flaxseed group treatment compared with diabetic animals. Conclusion: In conclusion, flaxseed significantly reduced lipid profile and atherogenic index, as compared with the diabetic group. Flaxseed treatment also led to down-regulation of NPC۱L۱ mRNA and up-regulation of ABCG۵ and ABCG۸ mRNAs in the intestine of rats.